l88 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR* 



mathematics and philofophy has unveiled 

 to us fccrets which nature feemed to have 

 placed beyond the reach of our weak under- 

 ftandings. The path to be purfued in fu- 

 ture refearches, Is already traced out to us ; 

 and thofe who wifli to tread in it, need not 

 be afraid of bewildering themfelves; the 

 limits of thofe things which are probable, 

 doubtful, or certain, reft upon a foundation 

 that cannot be fhaken. Truth is not like 

 crror^ fufceptible of a variety of forms : it 

 appears only under one ; and never efcapes 

 thofe who fearch for it with integrity of 

 heart and foHdity of judgment ; but it flies 

 from thofe frivolous mortals who affix a 

 value to obje£ls which have none. Such 

 grovelling beings efteem only thofe fuper- 

 fiuities which ferve to pamper vanity and 

 luxury: they muft, confequently, invent^ 

 and fet a value upon, fophifms calculated to 

 conceal from the eyes of the multitude, the 

 X * fatal 



